Modi Govt Bulldozed MGNREGA, Says Sonia Gandhi, Vows Fight Against Black Law
New Delhi: Congress Parliamentary Party president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday accused the Modi government of trashing MGNREGA and asserted that the “black law” aimed at repealing it would challenge lakhs of party workers.
In a video message, he said the Modi government was attacking the interests of millions of farmers, laborers and landless across the country by weakening MGNREGA.
He alleged that for the past 11 years, the Center had ignored the interests of the rural poor.
Gandhi said he vividly remembers the day 20 years ago when Manmohan Singh became prime minister and the MGNREGA Act was passed unanimously in Parliament.
The former party chairman said it was “a very revolutionary step” and had become a source of livelihood for the poor, the exploited and the poorest.
He said that thanks to MGNREGA, migration in search of employment has stopped, legal right to employment has been provided and gram panchayats have been empowered.
“Through MGNREGA, a concrete step has been taken towards realizing the dream of an India based on Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj,” he said.
“But it is a matter of great regret that recently the government has bulldozed MGNREGA. Not only Mahatma Gandhi’s name has been removed, but the form and structure of MGNREGA has also been changed arbitrarily – without any thought, without consulting anyone, without gaining the confidence of the opposition,” the Congress leader said.
